I learned something new today. Since I’ve been running around like crazy for the last few days, the house has suffered. And consequently, I noticed both children responding to the mess, too. Normally, I have big plans: after the whole house is completely clean, we’ll go do something fun. I am hesitant to go do something fun first, for a number of reasons. “I don’t want to clean up,” David said this morning. I already had implemented an “after” activity: After we get the bedrooms clean (short goal), we’ll read our library books together. But I could sense that the minute I started to push on the cleaning, I’d see tears and resistance from both kids. So I sat with David and explained that we felt yucky because our house was yucky, and if we avoided cleaning, then we would still feel bad. Then I prayed (outloud) for wisdom. Then I decided a walk to the mailbox to mail a letter (about 1/4 mile roundtrip) would give the children a fresh perspective. The walk was short enough that they wouldn’t be tired out, but long enough to reset their emotions.

It worked! As I write this, I realize that, after all, I did ask God for wisdom. We started with their bedrooms, worked our way to the living room, and then stopped for story time. Then they went to sleep. They really were tired (and Bethel has a cold, so I know she’s not feeling great), and it was understandable that they would be weepy about cleaning up, but with the three of us working together we got a lot done in a small amount of time.

Now about the kitchen…

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Filed under: Chores, Emotions